A Mark In Time
Mark Knopfler Discussion => Mark Knopfler Discussion Forum => Topic started by: Best Brown Baggies on October 29, 2011, 09:15:49 PM
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I've just started to read for the 1st time in many years,
the unauthorised biography of Mark Knopfler, by
Myles Palmer. It is indeed a great read, with some great pics.
But as mentioned before on this & other forums, there does
seem to be alot of inaccuracies.
I've also read again recently the fantastic book by Michael Oldfield,
entitled 'Dire Straits' which was actually written in co-operation with
the band.
But I was wondering if Mark had ever considered writing a 'warts and all'
autobiographical account of his life.
We all know the stories he has churned out at every interview over the
last 30 odd years, but my god, I bet he has some real interesting stuff
to tell.
I for one would be first in the line to buy a copy!!
Cheers. BBB
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Mark is indeed writing an autobiography. He is also planning a deluxe boxset reissue of every studio recording during the Dire Straits years. He also is planning a blu ray live disc of the current tour, but he needs a few months to do overdubs before the mastering stage...
Oh and I think David Knopfler is co authoring the book. They will promote the book with a four piece world tour, with Pick Withers on bass, Jack Sonny on drums.
^ ok I clearly haven't had much sleep, thanks to my neighbour slamming the door at 3 am!
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I agree it's one of those fan dream things,
along with the DVD box set of un-released
material etc.......
But, he's led & is still living an exceptionally
cool & interesting life. There's so much, without being
too nosey, that I'd love to find out about the man
that we all love so much!!!
Cheers. BBB
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Well he is an avid reader and an excellent songwriter... :)
If I had to put money on it, I'd bet he'd write a novel or short stories rather than anything directly about himself. Just like his songwriting?
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Funny I am reading the Mike Oldfield book at the First read it about 25 years ago, read it a couple of time in 5years, then lost it. I recently bought a second hand copy and am reading it at the moment. Very interesting
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Careful what you wish for. Looking at things objectively, MK's life has been a lot more uneventful than Clapton's, and Clapton's book was really boring.
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After reading Eric's bio I deduced that he is indestructible and therefore from the same gene pool as Keef Richards.
I quite enjoyed that book, but then I've struggled with a similar problem to Eric. So apart from the sex, drugs and rocknroll were quite similar! ;D
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Was a wierd book, very strang to me for example that he basically couldn't care less about The Beatles or John Lennon and only seemed to agree to play with them because he was either too shy to say or had nothing better to do.
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That's what made him what he became. A revered blues master. You have to remember, in the 60s there wasn't many white people doing it right or respecting the old blues. The legend has it that one of the first things Jimi wanted to do in England was meet Eric, that's how respected he was as a 'proper' bluesman.
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It wouldn't be the sex, drugs & rock n roll I'd be
interested in. I'd quite happily just read about his family
& the mundane things.
But come on, there must be some exciting stories
in his life that would be worth reading about!
The sausage incident for one!!! ;D
Cheers BBB
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Sorry BBB, Mark is Mark ;D
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I respect Mark for being the private person
that he is.
I understand that it is highly unlikely that he
will ever divulge his secrets & life story for us to read,
but if he ever did, surely there'd be some great
'on the road' tales to tell.
Cheers. BBB
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Do you in the UK get the Dilmah tea TV ad?
The guys looks dreamily into the camera and says sincerely, "I have dedicated my life to tea."
That should be the title of Marks bio!
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Funny you should say that Fletch.
I was trying to think of a title myself.
I need more time to come up with a credible one.
I'll get back to you on that one.
Cheers BBB
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Lady Writer. Live and Love with a guitar hero. By Kitty Aldridge ;)
LE
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Private Investigations - How I found the place where Tyne meets the Delta.
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Lady Writer. Live and Love with a guitar hero. By Kitty Aldridge ;)
LE
Very nice title indeed. Kitty might as well write about her own husband. After all she probably knows Mark the best.
How about " Darling Kitty tells all" ;)
I enjoyed those 2 books mentioned by BBB. I remembered when I first got the "Dire Straits" book, I couldn't put it down.
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Lady Writer. Live and Love with a guitar hero. By Kitty Aldridge ;)
LE
Very nice title indeed. Kitty might as well write about her own husband. After all she probably knows Mark the best.
How about " Darling Kitty tells all" ;)
I enjoyed those 2 books mentioned by BBB. I remembered when I first got the "Dire Straits" book, I couldn't put it down.
That's still my favourite book on Dire Straits.
When I first got that book in my late teens, I used
to look at it on a daily basis. The pictures are superb.
Especially the close ups of Mark with his Strat from the
very early gigs. It's a pity some of those pics weren't in colour!
Shame there's not more books on our great man really.
Cheers BBB
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man, i only got the Mike Oldfield one in french, and my french maybe good, but at times i just miss stuff,....if anyone sees it in english on ebay or whereever, buy it and i will pay+shipping...
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man, i only got the Mike Oldfield one in french, and my french maybe good, but at times i just miss stuff,....if anyone sees it in english on ebay or whereever, buy it and i will pay+shipping...
I bought mine through Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/Dire-Straits-Michael-Oldfield/dp/0688025145/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1319967985&sr=8-4
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man, i only got the Mike Oldfield one in french, and my french maybe good, but at times i just miss stuff,....if anyone sees it in english on ebay or whereever, buy it and i will pay+shipping...
I see it in ebay quite often. You can save the search and as soon as one shows, you
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There is one on German ebay at the mo.
LE
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i don't do ebay...LE, can you do me a favor?? or is it second hand? don't want no second hand.....
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http://www.ebay.de/itm/Dire-Straits-by-Michael-Oldfield-1984-Paperback-Illustrated-/200667043333?pt=US_Nonfiction_Book&hash=item2eb8b01605
Well, it is obviously second hand. I wonder how you will ever get your hand on this book not second hand?? ;)
The description is not very exact. It is kept in general describing possible little dog-ears etc... The price is 19 $ (would be 13,40
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i don't do ebay...LE, can you do me a favor?? or is it second hand? don't want no second hand.....
Pottel you amaze me! No second hand stuff at all, or just books? How have you managed to gather this collection of yours? Some of the records must have come out even before you were born (Pink Floyd and Dylan) Anyway this book is out of print since the 80ies, and for a good reason, not enough mad people (call them fans) to buy a dated book. It just covers the years up to Alchemy. (it has been quite some time since I read it, surely no BiA onwards). I believe I have a second copy somewhere, but of course I bought it used and used it some more. ;D
I really lost any appetite for such readings, trying to focus to actual music. That was the reason I adored Belle and Sebastian the first years. They kept such a low profile, that even the most dedicated fans knew little about the lives of the members.
Anyway back to DS: Amazon, alibris and Abebooks have many copies for sale. Find the best combination of price and condition and buy it. It is the best solution. I took a look for mint condition you might have to pay 100 Euros. Mine is just Very good.
But I would certainly buy an autobiography. If MK was keeping a diary, it would be great to know his side of the story about Bob Dylan, Randy Newman and Aztec Camera, Steely Dan and Eric Clapton and all the rest. I certainly would not care for his personal life. But you can put the pieces back together from the numerous interviews so no need to make a big fuss about it anyway.
Working title for a patential biography: Why Mark Knopfler? ;D
I was reading the book "Written in my soul" with interviews by many artists among them MK and BD, Paul Simon and many others that are just as famous and mentioned in AMIT. Very interesting read, Dylan is asked about a song he played to MK at these hotel sessions (a recording never surfaced) called Prison Guard. Another holy grail for Pottel maybe?
At another Greek magazine, I found an interview containing some working titles for the songs that ended up in LoG. Most of them are really easy to understand which finished song represent, and there are two curios, that lead me to the conclusion that TR originally were two songs, and INR gave some of the lyrics to ID. So here they are and if you know something about them let me know. Maybe they have also surfaced elsewhere.
1.Telegraph road 2. I like to go to work 3. Industrial disease 4. Worth your while 5. It never rains 6. You walk out on a high wire 7. Music
At this very interview he finds Alan Clark's help important since he is the only one that can write the different parts of orchestration. If I find some spare time I will translate this and 3 more interviews from the greek magazines (from 1979-1985)
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those hotel sessions were never taped apparently. according to Ed Bicknell...who was there.
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Yes, pity isn't it? Many great things never get recorded. It is the definition of spontaneity. The best things happen when you least expect them. The best songs the best discussions. But the fact is that this is also the fabric that the fantastic bootlegs are made of. Artist do not know they are on record and act more natural. Scripta manent, verba volant.
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Pottel, Michael Oldfield
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Well, we must gather signatures for a new revised edition, then. It is the only way to have brand new copies!
I am really fond of the 33 1/3 series of books by Continuum, that each of them is dedicated to a great album. Even though not all books are great, some of them are way too out of focus and I do have my doubts about the albums selected, you should check them out - I can give you my opinion before buying any of them, at least for many of them , but what I am saying no DS or MK alums, and they have reached the 80th book. Maybe we should ask for one, or anybody ready to undergo such a task?
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Hey Pottel,
if you want me to do anything on ebay just send me a pm! I doubt you want this book, but of course I would give it a try for you!
LE
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I got mine last year from Amazon for really cheap. about $5 used.
A good read !